La cucina italiana – in Italy’s kitchen!

We start, of course, with the aperitivo – in Italy, this is more than just an appetising drink before a meal. Italians love life, and that’s exactly what they celebrate with an aperitivo. It is part of the Italian lifestyle to meet in the squares outside the bars after work and enjoy refreshing, light drinks such as wine or Campari. This is accompanied by small snacks and relaxed conversations as the sun goes down, heralding the end of the working day and dinner.

The Italian national dish is pasta, which is an indispensable part of any cuisine. Italians usually eat pasta as the “primo piatto”, the first course before the main course. Linguine or farfalle are well-known, but have you also heard of strozzapreti or lumaconi? There are several hundred types of pasta in total! A delicious pasta dish is “pasta alla norma”, for example. This Sicilian recipe is made with macaroni, aubergines and sheep’s cheese, accompanied by sun-ripened tomatoes and plenty of basil. The colours of the ingredients (white, red, green, black) are said to reflect the colours of the Italian flag, and the black of the aubergine and the white of the ricotta are symbolic of the slopes of the volcano Etna, covered in lava and snow.

Malfatti and gnocchi are the Italian answer to dumplings. Even though “malfatti” literally means “unsuccessful” in Italian, they taste delicious. They are ricotta and spinach dumplings with Parmesan cheese and nutmeg, which are best rolled by hand just like your Italian grandmother used to do. Freshly lifted from the boiling salted water and tossed in sage butter, they are enjoyed with the whole family.

Did you know that Italians only eat a sparse breakfast, but lunch and dinner are celebrated extensively? Socialising and enjoyment are inseparable in Italy. A cosy “cena” (dinner) often lasts over two hours! It often includes four courses, from antipasti to dolce (dessert). Incidentally, desserts in Italy can be really sweet and sumptuous, such as the “Zuppa inglese”. Here, sponge cake meets liqueur, vanilla cream, candied fruit and chocolate. It is accompanied by freshly brewed espresso and grappa as a digestive. Just as typical at the Italian dining table: white bread, which is served with every meal, and beautiful cloth napkins!

Do you fancy going on a gourmet tour of Italy and treating yourself to some Italian delicacies as soon as possible? A pasta or pizza evening with Italian specialities is a wonderful idea. Have fun cooking and savouring!